Debate contributions by Petra STEGER

Mr President! Yes, the European war psychosis continues. 800 billion – ReArm Europe. This is a slap in the face for European taxpayers. While the people of Europe no longer know how to afford their lives, they are shifting billions more and more into the arms industry and pushing us further and further into this war. For your military union, you seem to be ready for anything. They are looting everyone else and many other important EU budgets. Keyword research, digitalisation, NextGenerationEU, Cohesion Fund – funds promised for economic recovery, social stability and much more. And you're pushing the money towards Ukraine. They open up our budgets for the rearmament of Ukraine. But of course that's not enough. They also want to have even more money, increase the budget and make debt. You are abusing this war to finally realize your debt union. And despite the biggest EU budget ever, the budget is to be massively increased once again to around EUR 2 trillion, as if we had not yet paid enough. They take on debt, plunder budgets and continue to spin the escalation spiral. This is an absolute scandal and a security madness. Come to your senses.

Madam President, I refer to Rule 10(1) of our Rules of Procedure. I quote: The Member must respect the dignity of the Parliament and must not damage his reputation. In principle, criticism of MPs in the exercise of their mandate should be handled with restraint, but here a member of parliament has crossed a border where one can no longer look away. Helmut Brandstätter of the Liberals, as an individual, has almost maneuvered us into a diplomatic crisis with the United States, at an incredibly delicate time, at a time when peace is at stake in Europe. It's not just the United States as Piggy land the President, the Vice President and the Secretary of the United States Government as stupid, very stupidLiar, dictator or worse. So strong that the affected persons reacted to it several times and the reputation of the Parliament was thus massively damaged. This is not diplomacy. Insulting and insulting key allies, key trade and economic partners – this is a foreign policy supergauge. Madam President, I would ask you to take this behaviour into account.

Madam President, The EU is taking the next step towards a military union. As always, the Austrian Federal Government is at the forefront and is trampling on our neutrality. This European Defence Program This is nothing more than the next giant step towards a war economy. In the future, Member States will be able to have up to 100% of the costs of individual defence projects financed through the European Union. That is, as a net-payer state, we finance the rearmament of other countries, i.e. armament madness: faster, bigger, more expensive than ever – financed by redistribution. But not only other EU countries, no, Ukraine should of course get even more. At least 300 million, another 5 billion will be demanded for the next few years. As if we hadn't paid enough! How much tax money is left to seep into any dark channels? Ukraine is currently sinking into one of the biggest corruption scandals, no matter what, as it is not only preparing for Ukraine’s accession to the EU. The EU's accession to the war in Ukraine is obviously being prepared here. In doing so, the European Union proves once again that it has no interest in peace. While the US is presenting a peace plan, the EU is sabotaging it with its own, turning on the spiral of escalation, constantly upgrading and pushing us into the middle of this war.

Mr President. The EU presents its new asylum and migration report and once again proves a failure across the board. There is still no talk of stopping the pull factors. There is still no talk of remigration or effective external border protection. Instead, the election for Austria in the future means only forced distribution or penalties in the millions. EUR 20 000 per rejected migrant. If a country is overburdened, there are exceptions, but whether a country is overburdened is decided by the European Union and not Austria. Exactly with this report. What is the Austrian Federal Government doing? Does she stand up for her own people? Go like Viktor Orbán and say: No, we're not willing to take in even one more migrant or pay another penny? Of course not. She goes begging. And the ÖVP goes to the ÖVP begging. Mr. Asyldesaster Karner begs Mr. Budgetdesaster Brunner if we could have an exception to this forced distribution, so that we do not have to take in and pay more in the biggest financial disaster of the Second Republic. Yes, first we forfeit our sovereignty in terms of migration and then we go begging. Thank you, ÖVP. And once again you prove and show that you don't care about the safety of your own people and only what Brussels wants counts.

Mr President! Yes, the EU now wants a complete ban on Russian energy imports and proves once again that we are only ruled by hypocritical moralists who really don't care about the citizens of Europe. You are plunging Europe into the next crisis, you are destroying energy security in Europe, and you are deliberately driving individual Member States into economic ruin. You negate facts, geographical circumstances, and you negate that not every country can switch to alternatives so easily. Is this the much-needed diversification? A ban on energy sources – is that really serious? Is inflation not enough for you? Do you want to plunge more people into poverty? This is exactly what you will achieve as long as there are no cost-effective alternatives. European inflation, de-industrialisation and poverty – and worst of all: They are also stealing the Member States' right of veto. Instead of a package of sanctions, you decide on the whole as a REPowerEU package, bypassing unanimity and breaking European law. Does this look like the rule of law in the EU and respect for national sovereignty? An absolute shame! Ladies and gentlemen, without an affordable and secure energy supply, there is no functioning and competitive market in Europe. They are driving Europe against the wall with full force.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Peace talks in Budapest – a historic success for Hungary and Viktor Orbán. What is the European Union doing again? It turns around again and shows once again that here are all hypocritical, hypermoralizing politicians who apparently no longer know, yes, who have forgotten what diplomacy really means: Talking instead of escalating, communicating instead of moralizing. That is exactly what Hungary does, and that is why Hungary is now the heart of diplomacy and the voice of reason and for peace in Europe – Hungary and, unfortunately, no longer Austria. It is precisely this role that neutral Austria should have played, should have taken over from our history. But thanks to an incapable loser, Austria has long since lost this role – a political testament to poverty, as has the reaction of the Eurocrats here. Where is the recognition? Where is Hungary's support for this important task? No, instead we experience one Hungarian bashing and one attack at a time. Your goal is obviously clear: Elections are coming, and they want to put down an EU-hearing, controllable politician in Hungary as well. It is not about peace in Europe. It's about power and nothing else.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Double standards and hypocrisy – your name is European Union. It's really amazing. At Google, the EU Commission punishes exactly what it itself is only too happy to do: Manipulation of opinion on the net. But yes, you rightly criticize the fact that Google prefers to play its own content. You are right to criticize Google for abusing its dominant position. And rightly, you also criticize that Google distorts free competition on the Internet. But one thing I ask you: Where is this standard in your own actions? The EU has now become the biggest threat to freedom of expression and the press, and thus also to democracy in Europe. With the Digital Services Act Censor social media and want to determine what we are allowed to read, write and hear. With your media funding, you distribute millions to mainstream, EU-friendly media and then call it a free press. With the EU Taxonomy, you manipulate the financial market for the benefit of your NGOs and friends. So as far as manipulation and abuse of power are concerned, no one is really fooling this European Union at all. This has nothing to do with freedom, as we imagine. This is nothing more than a guided democracy.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Mrs. Kallas, I have to ask you seriously, just like Mrs. von der Leyen, whether you are really abandoned by all good spirits by now. What do you really want to do? If you want to go to war in Europe, is that your goal? You want to take on Ukraine – a war country, seriously? You speak of more than 10 000 men for so-called peacekeepers, i.e. ground troops, who have not only been called a provocation by Russia once in the past; Troops that apparently not even anyone wants to know about, neither the German Defense Minister nor US President Trump. Your alleged peacekeepers are as real as the Russian attack on Ms von der Leyen’s GPS system or your world leader – pure fake news. First, let yourself be pulled over the table during the customs negotiations, and then you will also be sitting in front of the door in Washington when the heads of state hold the important talks. Do you know what kind of picture you make in the world, Mrs. von der Leyen as well as you, Mrs. Kallas? In the future, as I can already predict, you will continue to sit outside the door during talks or potential peace negotiations. Why? Because no one takes you seriously anymore, and that's all you owe to yourself and your policy.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Give me my daily Hungarian bashing today. It's really amazing: Since I was a Member of the European Parliament, I have not seen a single meeting here where you did not go to Hungary in the worst possible way – with defamation, fake news and insults. Why? Because you obviously cannot stand the fact that there is a patriotic government in Europe that does not dance to the whistle of Brussels and represents the interests of its own people. Is this your form of democracy? Does this look like your respect for the people and the sovereignty of Hungary? Don't you have any other problems? Everywhere you drive Europe against the wall: When it comes to security, the economy, prosperity, freedom, peace – everything goes downhill, but you prefer to go on holiday to Budapest at the expense of taxpayers. And then I can only call it an absolute joke if you then pretend that you are fighting for the rights of homosexuals by criticizing Hungary for the Pride Parade, and you are the one who poses the greatest danger because with this uncontrolled mass immigration you are allowing the real danger to women's rights, homosexuals and also Jews in Europe. You are paving the way for radical Islam in Europe, and in doing so, you are actually endangering those liberties that you hypocritically claim to protect. Their double standards and hypocrisy that cries out to heaven. Shame on you!

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, The rule of law of the EU: Rule of law – in reality, this is nothing more than hypocrisy and double standards with EU stamps, a political means of pressure against unwelcome patriotic governments. This is exactly what we see in the example of Spain. Because while we are witnessing a Hungarian bashing in continuous loop here, the EU in Spain is closing both eyes and has been putting its head in the sand for far too long. What we are currently experiencing in Spain is no longer an isolated case – it is state corruption at the highest level. Prime Minister Sánchez has bought his power with an amnesty trade to separatists. His family is involved in corruption. The judiciary is openly manipulated. What does the European Commission do? Exactly – nothing at all! While Viktor Orbán is overwhelmed by you with campaigns and billions of dollars are illegally withheld, you look the other way at Sánchez. While journalists, judges and investigators are hampered, you continue to hold your hand over Sánchez in a protective manner. Why? Because Sánchez is a pro-European social democrat. That's exactly why! Those who are compliant with the EU will be spared. You never have to talk about European values again. You prove every time that you are absolutely unreliable.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Next week, the NATO summit will take place, and with it the stage is reopened for the armament fanatics of Europe. This is exactly what we will experience: many politicians who, instead of fighting for peace, want to go to war more and more in Europe; Politicians who, like here in Parliament, want to make the European Union a defence union under NATO rule today rather than tomorrow. They will again cry out for more weapons and even more weapons, they will again throw at the propaganda and fear machinery and claim that Europe would not be able to defend itself if Russia attacked. NATO countries spend ten times as much money on arms as Russia. To believe that peace is ensured as more and more weapons are produced is simply shaky and irresponsible. What happened to the alleged peace union? It's time to stand up against the greed of arms companies and for diplomacy and peace, it's time to stand up against the European Union's robbery of sovereignty. Because the goal is clear: This war is to be misused to transfer even more powers to Brussels. From an Austrian point of view, all this is no longer compatible with our neutrality. I say Austria is neutral and also has to remain neutral.

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, It is really amazing how you really drive Europe against the wall in all areas and still stand here and always point your finger at the evil others with your moral detachment. No, it is not only since Trump launched his customs policy that the competitiveness of the economy and prosperity in Europe are steadily going downhill. Europe alone is to blame for this. As the U.S. resolutely enforces its economic interests, you are putting more and more strain on companies. keyword Green Deal – Green disaster –, sanctions, monetary policy, energy policy, supply chain law, emission allowance trading, combustion off, border adjustment mechanism, bureaucracy, over-regulation and, and, and. We are witnessing the largest deindustrialisation in Europe. What is the European Union's strategy? Nothing. They criticize the US for its customs policy. It was you yourself who had previously imposed tariffs on China, for example. Their hypocrisy and double standards cries out to heaven. One thing on top of that is only the loss trap in Austria, which turns Austria into a bankrupt state and ensures that we have the strongest recession of all EU countries. The EU wanted to become the most innovative economy in the world. We are far from that today. While China and the US are inventing the future, Europe is doing only one thing: regulate.

Mr President! Dear Mr Brunner, I have to ask you: What are you doing here anyway? As it turns out, you are responsible for the biggest fiscal disaster of the Second Republic. They have transformed Austria from a healthy economy into a bankrupt state: 4.7% budget deficit. You shouldn't worry about our safety or sit here in a well-paid EU top job. Just like your former Chancellor Nehammer, who is now being served in the European Investment Bank as a thank you for the pile of shards. If you had decency, you would resign immediately. No, instead, present a security strategy today without having any strategy at all. Nothing! There's nothing! No documents, no data, no figures – nothing at all. Very serious announcements. Instead of finally providing security, you once again put the citizens under general suspicion and once again live out your censorship fantasies together with von der Leyen. In the fight against terrorism and organised crime, TikTok and social media are to be censored again. At the same time, you continue to watch as millions of illegals cross our borders uncontrollably every year and with them numerous dangers, extremists and terrorists, and thus, Mr Brunner, once again show that you are just as clueless as you were as a Minister of Finance in Austria.

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, Since 2015, more than 8 million migrants have come to Europe. Two-thirds of those who come to us are not worthy of protection, and yet more than 80% remain here forever. The error in the system is obvious to everyone: Anyone who has ever set foot on European soil will stay here forever and will not be able to get out. Unfortunately, this return regulation will not change this at all, because the mistake is that they can even enter European soil. I'm glad that after so many years, you finally realize that we finally need more consistent deportations. But even return centres, which will soon be overcrowded, will do nothing as long as there are no return agreements or agreements with third countries in which you have failed fulminantly for years. How are you going to finish them if you are obviously still not willing to put financial pressure on them? Of course, there is still no mention of this. The only thing that would make sense would be not only return centres, but also procedural and asylum centres, not in the EU but outside. What was said, promised and announced all great. And once again, after the toothless asylum and migration package, the EU is demonstrating its lack of will and inability to actually ensure the necessary turnaround here.

Mr President! Ladies and gentlemen, the war in Ukraine is about to enter its fourth year, and you feel that you are holding the thousandth debate here under the title Continuation of Unconditional Solidarity. All citizens in Europe are now wondering: Why actually? First, why unconditionally? Because nothing in politics - and certainly not billions in payments and weapons - should be unconditional. And secondly, what about solidarity with one's own people? When will you finally stop using this policy against your own interests? How about a new title in the House? For example: Time for peace. That would be appropriate now! No, you don't even get the idea. Since the beginning of this heinous war, there has not been a single peace initiative of the alleged peace project of the European Union. Instead, you are jeopardising our security and sacrificing our prosperity, and this is the most shabby thing, without ever asking citizens if they are right at all, if they are even willing to bear the cost of all this. When do you finally recognize the signs of the times and finally stand up for what your real task would be, namely peace? No, instead, maneuver us into a foreign policy...

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen, The whole debate is just incomprehensible. If you have listened to a few comments here, then it is really time to say: Up here and no further. What you are going through and planning even further under the guise of democracy and freedom is nothing more than a frontal attack on the fundamental rights of the citizens of Europe. The Digital Services ActYour alleged tool against disinformation, the prestige project of former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton – you know, the parade democrat who wants to cancel entire elections if the desired result does not come out – is in reality nothing more than a censorship tool of the worst kind. They threaten social platforms and force them to remove content – they say it's about disinformation and fake news. But I ask you: Who determines what is right and what is true? In reality, your only concern is that opinions that don't suit you should be deleted. Is that really your idea of freedom? If so, then unfortunately you have turned completely wrong. Democracy is not protected by bans. Freedom of expression is not protected by censorship and fact checkers. Free elections are not protected by annulment. A democracy that curtails freedom of expression is no longer a democracy – it is a façade that lurks behind equality and oppression.

Dear Mrs. Colleague, thank you very much for your question. It is obvious that there is always disinformation – no one denies that at all. No one denies that falsehoods are spread through social media channels, that there are all sorts of campaigns. The question is, what you don't have in mind is: Are citizens really that manipulable? Are you really incapable of forming your own opinion? Are they really not able to decide on their own how to vote in an election? And this ability is exactly what you are talking about. I have more confidence in the citizens of Europe. I believe that they are able to make the cross there in elections, which actually reflects their opinion. And what you're doing here is really nothing more than censoring and cutting this freedom of expression. I'm always in favor of free speech, even on social media.-Area.

Madam President, Dear Ladies and Gentlemen! If the European Union is talking about the fight against fake news and disinformation, then all the Democrats, all the real fighters for freedom of expression should really be ringing the alarm bells. It has long been clear that the EU is no longer a freedom project; at the latest since the decision of the Digital Services ActThis is nothing more than a censorship tool. But I would not have thought it possible for you to go so far as to applaud the fact that an entire election is annulled in a country under the pretext of disinformation because of TikTok contributions and that a country is plunged into a state crisis. In truth, you are only in favour of this election being overturned because it did not produce the desired result, because a right-wing candidate critical of the EU won. The so-called liberal democracy now turns out to be quite openly the opposite of a real democracy. Don't pretend that elections are only influenced by the outside world. No, disinformation is also carried out in the EU countries, by governments and, to a large extent, by the European Union itself. Many supposedly democratic governments in the EU resort to methods that have nothing to do with a free society. They suppress oppositional opinions and media or outsource this censorship to private companies. This also includes the so-called de-banking: Actors critical of the government, even the media, are simply deleting the account – as seen in the case of Of courseMagazine in Australia. Also draconian punishments against journalists as in the case of the editor-in-chief of the German couriers or attempts to ban opposition media outlets such as the CompactMagazines are examples of a frightening development. Ladies and gentlemen, if you are talking about influencing elections, then you should first turn in front of your own door. A democracy that suppresses and censors dissent is no longer a democracy. This is nothing more than a controlled society and supervised thinking. (The speaker declined to answer Alexandra Geese’s question under the ‘blue card’ procedure.)

Mr President, ladies and gentlemen! The Assad regime has fallen and the time is ripe – the time is ripe for around 100,000 Syrian asylum seekers in Austria and around a million across Europe to pack their bags and go home, now. Because if I look at how within a very short time 30,000 Syrians have marched in front of the parliament in Vienna or how tens of thousands of Syrians have shouted Islamist slogans and called for violence at the Stuttgart Christmas market, then they should leave the country sooner rather than later. This is a huge security risk that you can no longer close your eyes to in Europe. Asylum is individual protection against persecution. Assad is history – and therefore any basis for protection status. It is not a day longer to expect citizens in Europe to continue to finance these people with their tax money. As an Austrian, I can only describe it as an absolute shame that an Austrian of all people, the new EU Commissioner Brunner, advises against deportation. In addition, where his own party, the ÖVP, even demanded these deportations and not only once promised a restrictive asylum course. Double talk, hypocrisy and EPP show politics as we know them all too well. We Patriots clearly say: It is time to act. The order of the day is now called repatriation and remigration. Protect Europe at last!

Madam President, ladies and gentlemen! First the Draghi report, now the Niinistö report – the European Union is once again obviously particularly creative when it comes to disempowering the nation states. Yes, this is the programme of the European Union that we know. Even more competences, even more centralization, even more synchronization, until the obviously great goal of a European state is finally achieved. These reports are all – yes, under the guise of important and correct issues – but nothing more than attacks on the democracy and sovereignty of the Member States. And they always want to force them to finance immense expenditures, preferably with more and more debt – be it for the production of self-destructed competitiveness or for the expansion of the arms industry, which is the focus this time. Of course, always hand in hand with NATO, which is an absolute no-go for a neutral state like Austria. In addition, there are dangerous plans such as the creation of an EU secret service or the development of censorship or indoctrination in order to give citizens the right opinion. What that means in a European Union that labels virtually every critic as the enemy of liberal democracy can really be imagined by anyone. We say yes to increased cooperation and coordination on security issues, no to more competences for the EU or an EU army.